Continuous spool assembly machine



Jan. 10, 1961 H. J. BERENSON 2,967,465

CONTINUOUS SPOOL ASSEMBLY MACHINE Filed Jan. 20, 1958 8 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

'a rra/eye V5 Jan. 10, 1961 H. J. BERENsoN CONTINUOUS sPooL ASSEMBLY MACHINE INVENTOR.

NEA/,ev d. ffes/vsaA/ Arme/w56 8 She@ Jan. 10, 1961 H. J. BERENsoN CONTINUOUS sPooL ASSEMBLY MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 20, 1958 INVENTOR.

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AfroE/EYS Jan. 10, 1961 H. J. BERENsoN 2,967,465

CONTINUOUS SPOOL ASSEMBLY MACHINE Filed Jan. 2o, 1958 l e sheets-sheet 4 ATTORNEY Jan. 10, 1961 H. J. BERENsoN CONTINUOUS SPOOL ASSEMBLY MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 20, 1958 IN V EN TOR.

ff? ZZ\22 HEM/Q v J. 6c-@Elway BY M, AM* ,6M

A free/v5 V Jan. 10, 1961 H. J. BERENsoN 2,967,465

CONTINUOUS sPooL ASSEMBLY MACHINE Filed Jan. 20, 1958 8 sheetssheet e 22/ [m/ull Jan. 10, 1961 H. J. BERENsoN 2,967,465

. CONTINUOUS sPooL ASSEMBLY MACHINE:

Filed Jan. 20, 1958 8 Sheets-.Sheet 7 Y/ 'VA INVENTOR. Haw/ev J. BERE/fad Jan. 10, 1961 H. J. BERENsoN Y 2,967,465

CONTINUOUS sPooL ASSEMBLY MACHINE Filed Jan. 2o, 1958 s sheets-sheet a IN V EN TOR. He/wev J EE/vsa/J BY Patented Jan. 1o, 1961 CONTINUOUS SPOOL ASSEMBLY MACHINE Henry J. Berenson, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to National Paper Can & Tube Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Jan. 20, 1958, Ser. No. 709,880

11 Claims. (Cl. 93-1) This invention relates to a continuous spool assembly machine.

Cross reference is made to -my co-pending United States Patent 2,887,018 granted May 19, 1959 and to my abandoned application Serial No. 109,767, led October 11,V

1949 which was co-pending with my patent aforesaid.

The present invention is a further development of and an improvement over the inventions shown in my prior application and patent aforesaid. Some of the apparatus shown in my patent aforesaid is utilized in the apparatus of the present application. Additional apparatus disclosed for the first time herein makes the operation of the'machine automatic.

In the devices of the prior application and patent aforesaid, glue is applied to facing surfaces of end discs which comprise end walls of spools having intermediate cores bonded by the glue to the discs. Inasmuch as only that portion of the glue disposed in an annular band pattern opposite the annular edge of the core is needed for the bonding process, much of the glue applied to the core faces in the devices of the prior application and patent is wasted.

In the present invention the glue is applied to the annular edges of the cores. Accordingly, only as much glue as is actually needed for bonding the cores to the discs is used, thus resulting in a substantial saving in glue.

While in the devices of the prior application and patent aforesaid, discs are manually positioned in the assembly station, only the placement of the cores and plunger action being fully automatic, the device of the present invention eliminates all manual assembly operations in favor of the completely automatic assembly sequence cycle of positioning of the spool components in the assembly station and the integrating thereof in the step of. transferring them to the assembly throat. Both the cores and the discs are fed automatically to the assembly station in timed sequence with the operation of a plunger which advances assembled components from the assembly station into an assembly throat where the assembled and glued spools are cured.

The device of the present invention also embodies novel centering apparatus for accurately centering the cores with respect to the dies. Especially where there is very little radial clearance between the peripheral edges of the discs and the peripheral core face, accurate centering is important to make certain that the ribbon or thread material to be wound upon the spool is received uniformly. In the preferred form of the invention the centering apparatus does not operate on any particular spool until the glue has had a brief time in which to partially set. The action of the centering apparatus ordinarily will cause slight relative movement between the core and discs. This motion tends to more firmly seat the parts. The tinal seating of the parts after the glue has partially preset serves to effect a better bond between the parts.

In carrying out the invention several other novel features of the apparatus contribute to its smooth and continuous automatic operation. These features include:

(1) The apparatus for feeding horizontally stacked end discs toward -the assembly station and stripping individual discs from the stacks and depositing them at the assembly station. This apparatus includes lead screws which are actuated concurrently with disc stripper slides.

(2) The pocketed wheel which feeds cores into thel assembly station and past gluing apparatus which applies glue to the annular edges of the cores.

(3) The escapement mechanism which moves cores from the supply hopper to the elevator apparatus which feeds the pocketed wheel.

(4) The timing apparatus by reason of which all ap7 paratus is timed to coordinate the assembly of spool com-v ponents and the delivery of such components in assembled glued condition.

Other objects, features and advantages of the inven tion will appear from the following disclosure in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a device embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the device shown in Figure l.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the device shown in Figures 1 and 2, the core hopper and elevator being omitted in this view.

Figure 4 is an enlarged plan view of the core hopper and parts of the core elevator.

Figure 5 is a view in spaced apart relation of unassem#` bled components of a spool.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the assembled spool.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of Figure 3. y

Figure 8 is a fragmentary cross Section taken along the line 8 8 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary cross section taken along the line 9--9 of Figure 7.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary cross section taken along the line 10-10 of Figure 8.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary cross section taken along the line 11--11.of Figure 3.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary plan view taken along the line 12-12 of Figure 11, portions of the disc stripper apparatus being shown in section.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary cross section taken along the lineV 13-13 of Figure 3.

Figure 14 is a fragmentary cross section taken along the line 14-14 of Figure 3.

Figure 15 is a fragmentary cross section taken along the line 15-15 of Figure 3.

Figure 16 is a fragmentary cross section taken along the line 16--16 of Figure 3. Y

Figure 17 is a fragmentary cross section taken along the line 17-17 of Figure 16.

Figure 18 is a cross section taken along the line 18--18 of Figure 3.

Figure 19 is a fragmentary cross section taken along the line 19---19` of Figure 3.

Figure 20 is a cross section taken along the line 20-20 of Figure 19.

Figure 21 is a fragmentary cross section taken along the line '21-211 of Figure 19.

Figure 2.2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross section taken along the line 22-22 of Figure 11.

Figure 23 is a fragmentary cross section taken along the line 23-23 of Figure V4. v

Figure 24 is a fragmentary cross section taken along the line 24-24 of Figure 4.

Figure 25 is a fragmentary cross section taken along the line 25-25 of Figure 2.

Figure 26 is a simplified electric circuit diagram for control ofthe movement of the duid motgrswhilch feed discs into the assembly station.

As best shown in the general views of Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, the machine of the. present invention is provided with support frame legs 30 optionally 'mounted on elongated skidsf31. 'The legs 30 support a frame table- 32 on which various other parts of the device are mounted.

As in the device of the` prior application and patent aforesaid, components for the `completed flanged spool 33 shown in Figure 6 consistof a `core 34"an'd end'di'scs 35 which are desirably providedwith central apparatus 36. These components 34, 35 lareassembledat an assembly station 40 best shown in,Figures7,`=8v and 12 in which thecores and discs are successively. automatically positioned upon a component carrier 37'which`, as inprior Patent No'. 2,887,018 aforesaid, comprisestwo arms 38, 39 respectively mounted o n'fhnb bosses42, 43 pivotally mounted on the reciprocating transfer stem 44.

The operation of the component-'carrier `37` will be hereinafter described in greater detail. present to note that other apparatusl herein disclosed automatically conveys to the component carrier the various components 34, 35 in timed sequence with the .operation of plunger 45 which transfers the. carrier and its load from the assembly station into aril assembly throat where the glue cures at least partially in the'cou'rse of movement of the assembledcomponents therethrough.

Core components 34 are conveyed tothe assembly station in the apparatus shown in side elevation'inFigure 2 and which `comprises. a hopper 46,'having4 arotatable cone saddle 47 actuated'throughshaft 48 byfchaindrive 50 from motor 51. Cores 34 inthe hopper 46 are conveyed thereinpast the shield 48 into chute 49 which desirably comprises spaced slats as shown in Patent No. 2,887,0 l81afo`resaid and onto downwardly inclined ramp 52 on which the cores 34 roll by gravity toward the bottom end of the upwardly inclinedconveyor apparatus indicated generally by reference character 53.

As shown in detail in Figures .'24 and 25, the conveyor 53 comprises side stringers 56 supported on legs 54 at its lower end and on the upright mast 55 at its upper end. Mast 55 rests on the table 32. Conveyor stringers 56 are cross connected at intervals by cross straps 57 upon which spiders 58 are mounted. The spiders carry on adjustable bolts 59 slatbars 62 and,63 between which the ascending cores 34 are guided.I The cross members 57 also support a bottom slat or: rail 64 over which the conveyor belt 65 passes. Conveyor belt 65 is driven by pulley 83 connected to sprocket 66 mounted at the top of mast 55 (see Figure l). Theopposite end of the belt conveyor passes about pulley 68V which has a shaft 69 mounted between angle stringers 54 as shown in Figure 4.

Elevator 53 may`also be'provided with an idler roller 79 mounted on the adjustable yarm 82, thus to maintain appropriate tension on the belt 65. At suitably spaced intervals belt 65 is provided with propelling lugs 67.

As best shown in Figure 24 escapement mechanism is provided for metering cores 34 from the ramp 52 onto the conveyor belt 65. For this purpose the ramp 52 is provided with an upstanding arm 72 having an elongated slot 73. The pintle 74 for the escapement rod 75 extends through the slot 73 and is adjustably clamped to the arm. The rod 75 has its respective ends bent as shown at 76, 77 and has a journal 71 Yrotatable'on pintle 74. Spring 78 biases the rod towards engagement of its end 76 with a core 34 on the elevator 53. In the position of the parts shown in Figure 24 with rod end 76 engaged with core 34, its opposite'end 77 bears against thelower-most core 34 in the line of cores on the ramp 52 to hold the line of coresagainst descending on the ramp.

As the conveyor belt 65 moves upwardly core 34 will be removed from beneath the end 76 y'of the rod and the bias of spring 78 will pivot the rod 75 in a counter- Clockwise direction aS-shownfin Figure 24 to remove its It suffices ati end 77 from the path of advance of cores down the ramp 52. By the time the lowermost core in theline has rolled down the ramp past rod end 77 the next core 34 on the elevator 53 will engage rod end 76 to restore it to its position shown in Figure 24 and rod end 77 will arrest further advance of the cores on the ramp. Accordingly, only one core at a time will be released in timed sequence with the movement of the elevator 53, thus to avoid jamming of the cores at the input end of the elevator 53. Y

At its upper end the side rails 63 of the slat conveyor 53l are curved at 86 and continue vertically 4downwardly at 87 in cooperation-with end slat rails 88, 89. Rails 87, 83, 89 are supported on spiders`58 mounted on cross pieces 92 extending between the mast members 55 (Figure 1).

At their lower ends the slat rails 87 are enlarged at 93 to guide descending cores 34 into pockets 94 in the carrier wheel 95. The wheel 95 is mounted on a cross shaft 96 rotatable in bearing blocks 97 best shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3.

As best shown in Figures 2 and 11, the hubk 99 of a circular cam plate 98 which is free of positive connection with the shaft 96 is adjustably lixed by arm 102 and adjustable bolt 103 to a frame member 104 of the mast 55. Accordingly, the position of the upper and lower cam shoulders 105,106 of the cam plate 98 may bev adjusted in alimited range by manipulation of bolt 103.

The wheel 95, however, is connected by its key10'7 to the shaft 96 to rotate therewith. Shaft 96 lis 'providedwith gear 108 (Figure 1) by which it receives power for rotation as hereafter described.

Each pocket 94 of the wheel 95 is provided with clamping mechanism best shown in Figure 11 and which comprise semi-circular core shoulders 109 formed on the leading edges of the pockets 94 and cooperative clamping 'shoulders 112 on the arms 113 which. are pivotally mounted on the pintles 114 to the side of wheel 95. The arms 113 are further provided with adjustable lever arms 115 which carry cam roller 116. The lever arms 115 have elongated slots 117 by which the position of their cam rollers 116 may be accurately adjusted.L with respect to the peripheryrof the cam 98.

The wheel 95 is further provided adjacent eachleverl arm 115 with bias springs 118 mounted 'in` suitable guide sleeves 119 to bias the arms 113 to Open position However, in the movement of the turntable in its clockwise direction in Figure 11 (see arrow 122) the rollers'116 will engage the relatively stationary cam shoulder on cam plate 98 to pivot the arms 113 against the bias of springs 118 to clamp core 34within theappropriate pocket. Roller 116 remains on the raised portion 123 of the cam 98 until it drops off of the cam surface 123 adjacent shoulder 106, thus permitting spring 118 to open the clamp arm to release and drop the core into the assembly station.

The lowermost core 34 in the chute 87, 88, 89 will be held inV readiness to drop into the nextpocket by the arcuate periphery 124 of the wheel 95.' .By'adjusting the cam 98 the core clamp arms 113 may be made `to open or close in exactwregistry with the chute and with the assembly station. l 'l In the course of transferring cores 34 from the chute 87, 88, 89 to the assembly station, the wheel 95 moves the cores 34 between the glue applying rollers 126 best shown in'Figures 2, 13 and 14. The wheel 95 is not as wide as the core 34 so that the annular edges of the core are marginallyY exposed tocontact Vthe rollersf126.` Accordingly, the glue in appropriate quantity is transferred to the edges of the core where it remains in readi# ness for bonding the core to the discs 35. The` transferred glue adherent to a core 34 is indicated at A120. in Fig. 13.

As best shown in Figures 13 and 14 the applicator rollers 126 are mounted on shafts 127 which are journaled for rotation in frame plates 128. The shafts 127 carry sprockets 129 engaged with chains 130 which pass about idler sprockets 133, 134 and also mesh with sprockets 135 mounted on shafts 136 which carry transfer rollers 137 which dip into the glue reservoirs 138 to transfer glue from the reservoirs to the rollers and thence to the edges of the cores 34.

The plates 128 are adjustable with respect to their platform 139 by the thumb screws 142 which interconnect mounting brackets 143 for the plates 128 with brackets 144 xed to the supports 145. Accordingly, the po sitions of the respective rollers 126 may be readily adjusted to provide for appropriate glue applicator roll pressure on the cores 34.

As shown in Figures 3, 13 and 14 the sprockets 129 are powered from shaft 146 which receives power from chain 147 and sprocket 148 and is provided with beveled pinions 149, 150 which transmit power to the beveled gears 152, 153. Beveled gear 153 is directly connected on its shaft 127 to sprocket 129 and one roller 126. However, beveled gear 152 drives through a reversing gear set 154, 155 to the shaft 127 of the other applica` tor roller 126 whereby the rolls are driven in reverse direction so that one roller will rotate counterclockwise and one will rotate clockwise, as indicated by arrows 140, 141 in Figure 14.

As best shown in Figures 3, 12 and 15-17, end discs 35 are stacked upright in dual horizontal troughs 157 at the sides of which are disposed paired sets of lead screws 158. There is one trough for each stripper plate g 184 shown in Figure 12. The lead screws have unthreaded end bearing portions rotatable in the end bearing plates 159, as shown in Figures 3, 12 and l5. As best shown in Fig. 16 the lead screws communicate conveying pressure to the discs 35 by reason of their threaded engagement with the arms 162 of the disc pusher 163. The threaded grooved portions of arms 162 are open at one side and simply rest by gravity on top of the lead screws 158 and may be lifted laterally off of the lead screws to shift the position of the carriage 163 with respect thereto. The disc Vpusher 163 has a stem 164 on which a pusher plate 16S is mounted and is biased toward the discs by spring 166. A guide pin 167 fastened to plate 16S and which slides in the bore 168 in the pusher 163 may also be provided.

The lead screws may be driven in the same direction by bevel gears 169 meshing with bevel pinions 172 on the drive shaft 173 having at its end a beveled gear 174 meshing with beveled p.nion 175 of the power shaft 176 which has a sprocket 177 .in engagement with the chain 178. Chain 178 receives power. as hereinafter described. Accordingly, when the machine is under power, the lead screws.158 will rotate at aspeed which is appropriate to feed the dual stacks of discs 35 toward the disc stripper apparatus shown in Figure 12.

Covers 179 having handles 82 and pivotal about pintle pins 183 are provided to protect the exposed surfaces of the stacked discs 35 against being soiled.

After carriage or pusher 163 has been advanced by the lead screw 158 to the end of its travel, its cover 179 is opened, the carriage 163 simply lifted manually off of the lead screws and moved to the opposite end of its trough while new stacks of discs 35 are placed in the trough 157.

Details of the apparatus for stripping discs from the stacks and advancing discs to the assembly station are best shown in Figures 11, 12 and 22. Reciprocating transversely of the direction of feed of lead screws 158 are dual stripper slides 184 which are independently powered by liuld motors 185 (Figs.-2 and 3), each motor being connected to its stripper slide by piston 186. As best shown in Figures 12 and 22, each slide 184 is Aprovided with a series of longitudinally spaced cavities 187 spanned by inlaid plates 188 on which are mounted pawls 189 having coil springs 192 biasing the pawls to wards projection beyond the face of slide 184 whereby the pawls will marginally engage discs 35 in the course of movement of the slide 184 toward the assembly station. 'The pawls have beveled rear surfaces 193 which ride over the disc 35 in the retrogressive movement of .the slide. To preclude backlash of the disc 35, the frame member 94 is provided with spring detent arms 195 which engage .the disc 35 through their central openings 36. Accordingly, on movement of the slides 184 toward the right as viewed in Figure 12 successive discs 135 will be stripped from the stack of discs 35 by the rearmost pawl 189 and moved thereby toward the assembly station and ultimately into the path of plunger head 214. Rearmost pawl 189 moves a disc to a position in the forward stroke of the slide 184 where on the next retractive movement of the slide the next pawl will pick it up for another incremental advance on the next forward movement of the slide. The slides 184 are provided at their rear ends with upstanding actuator levers 196 which engage limit switches 197 at the end of each advance stroke of the respective slides to energize solenoids which will .reverse the appropriate iluid motor 185 and withdraw the Vit may again advance and strip a disc from lthe stack.

Accordingly, each stroke of slide 184 will strip a disc from its stack and will concurrently deliver a previously stripped disc to the assembly station 40. The fluid motors are actuated on their forward strokes by solenoids 'in circuit with switch 190 which is engaged by an actuator 191 in the path of advance of pocketed cores 34 toward the assembly station 40, as shown in Figure 12. -The apparatus is -timed so that switch is actuated, the slides 184 strip discs from the disc stacks and deposit discs at the assembly station 40, switches 197 are actuated and slides 184 retracted between strokes of plunger 45. The electric circuit for the switches 190, 197 is shown in Figure 26.

The fluid motors 185 are supplied concurrently with iluid through valves 200, for each of which there is a solenoid operator 201. When normally open switch 190 is closed by engagement of core 34 with its actuator 191, an electric circuit is closed from a conventional power source 210 to the solenoids 201 to position valves 200 to transmit pressurized fluid from uid pressure lines 211 to fluid lines 220 which actuate uid motors 185 in a disc stripping and feeding direction. v

At the completion of the forward stroke of the plungers 186 of the motors 185, actuators 196 close normally open switches 197 (switch 190 having meanwhile opened after core 34 passes beyond its actuator 191) to reverse the polarity of solenoids 201 to reverse the valves 200 and transmit Huid pressure from lines 211 to fluid lines 22,1 to reverse the motors 185 and retract the slides 184. This clears the path for plunger 45. The slides 184 remain retracted until another core 34 engages switch actuator 191 to recycle the motors 185. Valves 200 exhaust through exhaust lines 230 as is conventional. The chain and sprocket connections which actuate the wheel 95 and plunger 45 are so timed that plunger 45 is in retracted position when core 34 engages switch actuator 191 and the cycle of the circuit of Figure 26 is suiciently rapid to be completed before the next advance of plunger 45.

The table 198 upon which the stacking apparatus is mounted may be provided with suitable slots 199 in which the means for fastening the disc feeding apparatus is mounted. The slots 199 provide freeway for appropriate adjustment of t-he feeding apparatus with respect tothe` slides and the work assembly station.

or saddle seat 202 the arms 38, 39 are provided with relcessed seats 203 on which the end discs 35 are supported. Both .seats 202,203 are relieved. centrally at 204 to. re reeive. the lowermost strapror seat205 of the Vcuring throat.

As in my'prior patent aforesaid, .the curing throat comprises. a lowermost slat or strap 205, an.upper strap or,

slat 206 and side slats 207, all slats being supported by the .threaded bolts 208 inthe spiders 209 which arein turn supported on pillars 212 mounted on frame 213 y.(Figure 7).

The end discs 35 and intervening cores 34 respectively ideposited onto the spool carrier 37 are transferred from lthe assembly station 40 (Figure 7) into the throat of the slat conveyor by plunger 45 which has a head214 adapted to pass .through the opening 215 in the stripper slide guide 'plots 216. The movements of plunger 45 and slides 184 -aretimed so that plunger 45 will not advance until the slides .184 are retracted.

Plunger 45 is supported in bearing brackets 217, 236 y'and is provided with a cross head 218 having a slidable connection at 219 with the stem 44 on which the carrier 37 is mounted. Stem 44 has a xed collar 222 which is picked up by the cross head 218 when the plunger head 214 reaches a position in which the near side disc 35 has been transported from its position on rail 205 where deposited by stripper slide 184 to its seat on the step 203 of the collar. Continued movement of the plunger 45 `carries with it the spool carrier 37 which will pick up the far side disc 35 and seat it on its step 203 on the Icarrier. Plunger pressure will press the spool components together on the carrier.

Asin the device of my patent aforesaid the first spider y209 for throat 205, 206, 207 is provided along the side margins `of bottom slat 205 with carrier opening fingers 223 (Figure 9) havingtapered ends which engage correspondingly tapered shoulders 224 of the arms 38, 39 of thecarriage 37, thus to open the arms 38, 39 against the bias of spring 225 to their dotted line positions shown in Figure 8. When the arms 38, 39 are thus opened, the carrier 37 releases the assembled spool 33 which then receives support solely from the slats 205, 206, 207 by which the spool is embraced. On withdrawal movement of the plunger 45, the arms 38, 39 will close pursuant to the bias of the spring 225 after the carriage has retracted far enough to clear the assembled spool 33. The bolts 208 in spiders 209 are adjusted in such a manner that slight radial pressure is exerted on the spools along the slat rails 205, 206, 207. This endwise pressure is sncient to hold the` end discs in tight abutment with the intermediate core while the glue therebetween cures.

The plunger 45 is operated by means of crank `discs 225 (Figures 3 and 7) pivotally connected at 226 to link arms 227 pivotally connected at 228 to the cross arm 229 to which the plunger 45 is adjustably connected. The discs 225 are driven by shaft 232 which has a sprocket233 meshing with the chain 234.

The stem 44 is provided with a coil spring 235 which bears between the bearing bracket 236 and a collar 237 fixed near the end of the stem 144. Spring 235 returns the carrier 37 to the assembly station 40 as plunger 45 retracts; The position of the carrier 37 at the assembly station 40 is determined by abutment of fixed collar 238 with the bearing bracket 236.

As best shownpin Figures 3 and 19, centering` dies 239 are disposed at each side of the curing slat conveyor and are vprovided with ways 242 (Figures` 19 and 20) in which slidey portions 243 of the dies 239 are guided. The dies 239 aresitnilar in `facial contour to thecarriage37 in that thetl have a raised central step or saddle A244 and lower side steps 245 (see` Figure 21). The saddle 244 engages the core periphery 34 and the steps 245 may engage the edge margins of the discs 35. Die pressure is applicdfrorn vboth sides of the assembled spool concurrently. by means` of the respective shafts- 246 which have power heads247 with eccentrically mounted` cranks 24% connectedby means of threaded bolts and adjustable u turnbuckles 249 with the stud 252` connected to the slides 243.

Shafts A246 receive their power from beveled gears 253 meshing withbeveled gears 254 onpshaft 255 which has a-bevel gear 260 receivingpower from the power train as hereinafter described. The movement of the dies 239 is in timed relationto the action ofthe plunger 245 so that the dies 239 are opened to permit advance of the assembled spools when the plunger 45 shifts the stack of assembled spools in the slat conveyor.

As the dies 239 center the cores 34 within the peripheral margins of the discs 35, some slight movement of the core with respect to the discs will ordinarily take place. Inasmuch as the glue between the cores and the discs has partially set, this movement will result in a better bond between the Parts.

All apparatus except the lluid motors is powered fromv the motor 256 shown in Figure 2, the motor having a shaft 257 witha belt or chain drive 258 to a set of speed reducing sprockets 259, 262 and a chain 263 meshing with sprocket 264 from which chain 265 powers the shaft 266 on which the sprocket 267 powers chain 85, another sprocket on the shaft 266 meshing with chain 268 which drives sprocket 269, shaft 272, sprocket 273, chain 274, sprocket 275, shaft 276 and sprocket 277 meshing with chain 178.

Shaft 272 also carries bevel gear 283 meshing with centering die drive gear 260 and bevel gear 284 meshing with bevel gear 285. on shaft 286 carrying the sprocket for chain 234 `which drives the cranks 225 for plunger 45.

Sprocketr264 is on a shaft 278 having a sprocket which drives chain `279 for sprocket 280 having ashaft 287 with pinion 288meshing with gear 108 on drive shaft 96 for the pocketed wheel 95.

Chain 147 which drives sprocket 148 to power the glue applying rollers 126 passes about idler sprockets 289, 290 and engages a sprocket on shaft 279 (Figure 2). Ac cordingly, all parts which must be operated in timed sequence are driven from motor 256 through chain 258, etc., except the uid motors 185 which are operated pursuant to limit switch which, however, is actuated by wheel 95 which isoperated from chain 258 and hence is timed therefrom. The parts are timed when the machine is set up and will thereafter remain in time.

I claim:

1. A machine for assembling cores and end discs in flanged relation andA comprisinga carriage, means on which the carriage is movable on a rectilinear path from an` assembly station, discfeed means for positively advancing discs in spaced relation to predetermined positions at the sides of the carriage vat said assembly station, corefeed means for positively advancing cores to a predetermined position on said carriage between said discs, a plunger having a path of movement to consolidate the cores and discs upon vsaid carriage and to move said carriage together with said discs and cores on its path of movement away from said assembly station, and means for actuating the disc feeder, core feeder and plunger in an 4automatic sequence cycle in which discs and cores are rst automatically and positively fed to said carriage and said plunger is actuated thereafter.

2. The device of claim 1 in which the disc feeder comprises spaced apart feed members and means for reciprocating said members toward and away from said assembly station and on a path transverse to carriage movement, disc hoppers in lwhich discs are stored, means for feeding said discs toward said reciprocating feed members, said feed members having means operating transverse to carriage movement for stripping discs from said hoppers in the course of their movement toward said assembly station.

clude retrogressive movement of said disc when said feed members are retracted.

4. The device of claim 1 in which the means for feeding cores to said assembly station comprises a core hopper, a wheel having peripheral pockets in which said cores are received from said hopper, core clamps for retaining said cores in said pockets and means for releasing the said core clamps from said cores when the core therein is in position for deposit at said station.

5. The device of claim 4 in which said Wheel is narrower than the core whereby edges of the core project laterally beyond said wheel, in combination with gluing means disposed at opposite sides of the path of said wheel and positioned for engagement with the exposed margins of the core whereby to apply glue thereto in the course of movement of the wheel toward said assembly station.

6. In a device of the character described, a feed hopper having a discharge chute down which circular components roll by gravity, an upwardly extending lifting conveyor for receiving said components from said chute and carrying them upwardly thereon, in combination with escapement mechanism for metering said components one at a time from said chute to said conveyor.

7. In a device of the character described, a feed hopper having a discharge chute down which circular components roll by gravity, an upwardly extending lifting conveyor for receiving said components from said chute and carrying them upwardly thereon, in combination with escapement mechanism for metering said components one at a time from said chute to said conveyor, said escapement mechanism comprising an escapement lever which spans from said upwardly extending conveyor to said chute, said lever having stop finger means engaged with the lowermost circular component on said trough, a trigger adapted to be engaged by circular components on said conveyor, said lever constituting means for cyclically releasing and stopping the lowermost component on the chute in response to actuation of the trigger by components lifted by the conveyor.

8. The device of claim 7 in which said escapement 10 lever has an intermediate pivot, a pivot support on which said pivot is rotatable and means biasing said lever for rotation about said pivot toward engagement of said trigger with a component on said conveyor.

9. In a device of the character described a chute for holding preglued disc and core components in assembly and means for moving said components axially along said chute, said chute being in positive lateral engagement with the discs but free of positive engagement with the cores, in combination with means for centering said cores within said discs and comprising centering dies at opposite sides Yof said chute, means for advancing said dies laterally concurrently against core portions between discs to which it is glued whereby to shift said core to a position substantially centered with respect to said discs, and means for moving said dies axially in timed coordination with the axial movement of said components.

10. The device of claim 9 in further combination with an assembly station materially spaced from said centering dies whereby the glue will have an opportunity to partially set prior to action on the core by said dies.

11. The device of claim 9 in which said dies have saddle-shaped core engaging portions and laterally relieved portions adjacent thereto for receipt of said discs.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 828,865 Spain Aug. 14, 1906 952,536 Lovatt Mar. 22, 1910 989,562 Brooks Apr. 18, 1911 1,502,220 Watrous July 22, 1924 2,200,276 Hothersall et al. May 14, 1940 2,581,720 Schulte Jan. 8, 1952 2,680,344 Capellazzi June 8, 1954 2,682,207 Rynish June 29, 1954 2,737,090 Norquist Mar. 6, 1956 2,782,579 Herschel et al Feb. 26, 1957 2,799,210 Gazette July 16, 1957 2,818,006 Little Dec. 31, 1957 2,873,508 Candler Feb. 17, 1959 

